The complaint, filed on behalf of former North Country dairy worker Crispin Hernandez, alleges the man was fired last September from Marks Farms in Lowville, Lewis County, after he and other workers contacted the Workers' Center of Central New York, also a plaintiff, for assistance in organizing the dairy farm's employees.

The suit alleges that Hernandez and fellow employee Saul Pinto were intimidated by the farm manager and were forced out of the rooms they rented from the farm within four days of their termination.

The complaint does not name Marks Farms as a defendant.

The lawsuit is rooted in labor protections awarded in the 1930s at both the federal and state levels.

The NYCLU points to an explicit exclusion of farmworkers from federal protections that were part of New Deal legislation — a carveout done at the behest of southern Democrats trying to reduce the influence of black workers, who were concentrated in the agricultural and domestic labor industries. New York's Labor Relations Act later cut out agricultural workers as well in an effort to conform to the federal language.

At issue is an amendment to the state Constitution approved in 1938 that the plaintiffs point to as extending the right to organize for all workers, regardless of industry.

In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, Cuomo called the "flaw in the state labor relations act ... unacceptable" and an apparent violation of the state Constitution.

"I agree with the NYCLU that the exclusion of farm workers from the labor relations act is inconsistent with our constitutional principles, and my administration will not be defending the act in court," he said. "We will not tolerate the abuse or exploitation of workers in any industry. This clear and undeniable injustice must be corrected."

In a Q&A with reporters Tuesday afternoon, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said he has long supported the rights of farmworkers to organize.

"Obviously we are going to see if we can resolve the matter and continue to work with the governor's office," Schneiderman said.

For its part, Marks Farms said employee health, safety and well-being are top priorities.

"We were disappointed to learn of the false allegations regarding our farm that were included in the complaint filed by Mr. Hernandez, WCCNY and WJCNY against the State of New York," the company said. "We will be working cooperatively with the appropriate authorities to set the record straight about our farm and its employees."